Akiva Goldsman adapted Dan Brown's novel, which focuses on Hanks' Robert Langdon character as he butts heads with the Illuminati and learns all of the exhausting steps required to name a new pope.

Zurer plays a woman trying to discover who murdered her father, while McGregor will play Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca, a close aide to the recently deceased pope.

One of several films to see its production start date pushed back by the since-settled writers strike, "Angels & Demons" is expected to begin production in Europe in June with Howard back at the helm and Brian Grazer and John Calley returning as producers.

McGregor is currently working on "I Love You Phillip Morris" opposite Jim Carrey. The "Trainspotting" star's latest feature, "Deception," opens wide on Friday, April 25.

Israeli star Zurer was most recently seen in the spring hit "Vantage Point." Her other credits include "Fugitive Pieces" and "Munich."